Locus of control: Relation to schizophrenia, to recovery, and to depression and psychosis — A 15-year longitudinal study

Abstract

Purpose-The present prospectively designed 15-year longitudinal research was conducted to study whether locus of control is linked to diagnosis, to major symptoms, to functioning and recovery, and to personality for schizophrenia patients, depressive patients, and patients with other major disorders.Procedure-The research studied 128 patients from the Chicago Follow-up Study at the acute phase and reassessed them 5 times over a 15-year period. Patients were evaluated on locus of control, global outcome, recovery, premorbid developmental achievements, psychosis, diagnosis, depression, and personality variables.Results-1.) After the acute phase, schizophrenia patients were not more external than other diagnostic groups. 2.) Internality is associated with increased recovery in schizophrenia (p<.05). 3.) A more external locus of control was related to depression (p=.01). 4.) The relationship between externality and psychosis was significant (p<.05).Conclusions-In severe psychiatric disorders a more external locus of control is not specific to schizophrenia and after the acute phase is not associated with one particular diagnostic group. A more external locus of control is related to fewer periods of recovery, to both depressed mood and psychosis, and to various aspects of personality (p<.05).

A Study On The Locus Of Control In Patients With Depression And Anxiety

“…The data tend to support much of the research done on locus of control and depression, which generally indicates that externality, is linked to depression [10]. While understanding the relationship between these two constructs (Depression and Externality in Locus of Control) which are so closely studied in literature, it is difficult to state the cause and effect [9]. In another study [11], the focus was on correlation of depression, age and locus of control.…”

“…The relation between a more external locus of control and increased depression has been supported by studies examining college students [16], cancer patients [17]. In the longitudinal study by Harrow and others [9], the relation between Locus of Control and Depression was significant for the overall sample (t = 2.54, 124 df, p = .01) indicating that patients who were more External in their Locus of Control at the 4.5-year follow ups were likely, concurrently, to be more depressed, while those patients who were more Internal on Locus of Control were likely, concurrently, to be less depressed at the 4.5 year follow. The present study was limited by a small sample size and further studies in this direction are warranted.…”

“…The possible reason for the occurrence of no difference in terms of Internality of the locus of control, depression and anxiety could be that both the groups tend to blame or hold themselves responsible for the consequences, and internalize to an extent. A study conducted [15] quoted that there were no significant differences between the Internal scale scores of the Levenson' Taking into consideration the patients diagnosed with depression, their belief that they are going to fail no matter the amount of efforts they put forth, keeps them away from the success and improvement [9]. Their belief of having no control over things becomes more prominent leading to hopelessness and inability to influence the outcomes.…”

“…It was also found that there was no relationship between Powerful others factor of External locus of control and depression. Other researchers [9] undertook a longitudinal research with the aim to study patients with severe mental disorders and to identify if their outlook towards life events (LOC) and its relation to depression. The results indicated that external locus of control was simultaneously related to depressed mood and behavior.…”

Psychological approaches to understanding and promoting recovery in psychosis and bipolar disorder: a mixed-methods approach

“…32 A study of 161 patients with severe mental illness (schizophrenia, BD and depression) found a strong association between empowerment and recovery, 115 and a longitudinal study of 128 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia found that internal locus of control was associated with long-term recovery. 116 Studies of predictors of recovery using more traditional psychiatric definitions focused on symptom remission or non-recurrence have found that neuropsychiatric factors are relevant. For example, a study on 436 patients with schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses 117 found that better insight was associated with good outcomes (defined as a single episode with no persistent symptoms); however, other evidence suggests that increasing insight is often associated with poor outcomes such as greater suicidality in people with psychosis.…”